The Very Best of Shocking Blue - Singles A's and B's

iTunes Review

Be careful — once you realize that there was a lot more to Shocking Blue than “Venus” or “Mighty Joe,” it’s easy to fall under the spell of their infectious Dutch psychedelia (and even easier to fall for their doe-eyed, husky-voiced singer Mariska Veres). This outstanding 1998 compilation boasts nearly 50 single-tracks - the first half gathering the A-sides and the second half covering the B-sides. As it should, Singles A’s and B’s kicks off with 1969’s “Venus.” Mysteriously, it was the band’s only hit in America, enjoying a resurgence in popularity following Bananarama’s successful 1986 cover. “Send Me a Postcard” should have been bigger than Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” — it rocked on the same opening riff, droned on a similarly haunting organ, played for an eighth of the length and is unarguably catchier. 1972’s “Inkpot” was more earthy than trippy, though it still managed to put a sitar through a wah-wah pedal. “Hot Sand” may be the most rocking B-side on the second half of the collection.